Hockey Canada:
Trevor Miller
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Sports
Well, it's been decided; Dec. 31 is set to be the day that the country stands still - not from the sheer anticipation of the 2010 countdown either.
Canadians from St. John's to Vancouver Island will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 23 players that Steve Yzerman and company believe will give Canada the best chance to win gold at home in February. This much-anticipated announcement has been four years in the making, especially considering Canada's seventh place finish in 2006.
It is fitting that the announcement comes on the heels of Christmas and, with all the speculation, each and every Canadian's list is much like a snowflake: different in some aspect from any other. It is also significant as it comes right in the middle of the cultural phenomenon that has become the World Junior Hockey Championship, where all eyes will be on Canada and their quest for a record sixth straight gold medal.
"Coincidentally" Brian Burke had decided to unveil the American contingent at the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Fenway Park. Is this an early set of mind games by the Canadian brass? It certainly seems that way.
Without a doubt, the number one question is: who should make the cut? This is the hotly debated topic that divides every single Canadian in some way or another. At the summer camp, there was much controversy that Marc Savard was left home, while oft-injured Simon Gagne got the call. Gagne did not disappoint the naysayers either, as he left soon into the first session with yet another injury. However, Savard has since been hurt as well and has missed significant time.
Does Canada go with youth or with experience? In 2006, Wayne Gretzky chose experience to reward those that had answered the call before. This was clearly a mistake, as a seventh place finish for Canada is unacceptable.
In 2002, Gretzky said that a deciding factor for the team was "to take the players that are playing best at the time". This gave the Canadian team the shot of youth that otherwise may not have been considered, and a gold medal was the reward. At the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 was a team that much mirrored the 2002 team. For those that remember, Vincent Lecavalier was cut from the team initially, but called back as an injury replacement and turned out to be the leading scorer in the tournament.
It seems that Gretzky steered away from the theme set for the 2002 gold medal-winning squad at Salt Lake City. But who is playing best now? You can argue that Sidney Crosby is not playing well enough for Team Canada, but without a doubt, his was the first name written when Canadians created their lists. Ryan Smyth is playing lights out right now; do you take him over "Mr. Serious" Jonathan Toews? A blend of youth and experience will serve Canada well in February, but one thing is for sure this Christmas: Yzerman better make his list, and check it twice - a third and fourth time wouldn't hurt either.
Canadians from St. John's to Vancouver Island will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of the 23 players that Steve Yzerman and company believe will give Canada the best chance to win gold at home in February. This much-anticipated announcement has been four years in the making, especially considering Canada's seventh place finish in 2006.
It is fitting that the announcement comes on the heels of Christmas and, with all the speculation, each and every Canadian's list is much like a snowflake: different in some aspect from any other. It is also significant as it comes right in the middle of the cultural phenomenon that has become the World Junior Hockey Championship, where all eyes will be on Canada and their quest for a record sixth straight gold medal.
"Coincidentally" Brian Burke had decided to unveil the American contingent at the Winter Classic Jan. 1 at Fenway Park. Is this an early set of mind games by the Canadian brass? It certainly seems that way.
Without a doubt, the number one question is: who should make the cut? This is the hotly debated topic that divides every single Canadian in some way or another. At the summer camp, there was much controversy that Marc Savard was left home, while oft-injured Simon Gagne got the call. Gagne did not disappoint the naysayers either, as he left soon into the first session with yet another injury. However, Savard has since been hurt as well and has missed significant time.
Does Canada go with youth or with experience? In 2006, Wayne Gretzky chose experience to reward those that had answered the call before. This was clearly a mistake, as a seventh place finish for Canada is unacceptable.
In 2002, Gretzky said that a deciding factor for the team was "to take the players that are playing best at the time". This gave the Canadian team the shot of youth that otherwise may not have been considered, and a gold medal was the reward. At the World Cup of Hockey in 2004 was a team that much mirrored the 2002 team. For those that remember, Vincent Lecavalier was cut from the team initially, but called back as an injury replacement and turned out to be the leading scorer in the tournament.
It seems that Gretzky steered away from the theme set for the 2002 gold medal-winning squad at Salt Lake City. But who is playing best now? You can argue that Sidney Crosby is not playing well enough for Team Canada, but without a doubt, his was the first name written when Canadians created their lists. Ryan Smyth is playing lights out right now; do you take him over "Mr. Serious" Jonathan Toews? A blend of youth and experience will serve Canada well in February, but one thing is for sure this Christmas: Yzerman better make his list, and check it twice - a third and fourth time wouldn't hurt either.
Be the first to comment on this story